Monthly Archives: October 2024

Government; October 30, 2024


Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given,    and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This is of course a very famous verse, quoted and sung every … Continue reading

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Conformity; October 29, 2024


Isaiah 8:11-12 This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:“Do not call conspiracy    everything this people calls a conspiracy;do not fear what they fear,    and do not dread it. The … Continue reading

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Truth; October 28, 2024


Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good    and good evil,who put darkness for light    and light for darkness,who put bitter for sweet    and sweet for bitter. It’s interesting how much more compact this verse is, written out in Japanese versus English, because … Continue reading

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Perspective; October 27, 2024


Isaiah 4:2 In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. I would imagine Isaiah’s hearers got rather confused sometimes, because his prophecies seem to mix … Continue reading

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Priorities; October 26, 2024


Isaiah 2:5 Come, descendants of Jacob,    let us walk in the light of the Lord. Verses 2-4 are a dearly loved prophecy of God’s kingdom, culminating in this invitation to live in obedience to and fellowship with God, but then this is followed … Continue reading

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Aging; October 25, 2024


Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember your Creator    in the days of your youth,before the days of trouble come    and the years approach when you will say,    “I find no pleasure in them”— The first part of this is excellent advice, but everything that follows, all the way … Continue reading

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Humility; October 24, 2024


Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know the path of the wind,    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,so you cannot understand the work of God,    the Maker of all things. Solomon was noted for his wisdom, but I think … Continue reading

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Bible Translation; October 23, 2024


Proverbs 20:27 The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord    that sheds light on one’s inmost being. This verse exposes a characteristic of both major Biblical languages that can be very frustrating for speakers of other languages. Both Hebrew and Greek use … Continue reading

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Speaking; October 22, 2024


Proverbs 13:3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. To a man of words like me, this verse seems rather ominous! Wise men, even apart from the Bible, have noted from thousands … Continue reading

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Sex; October 21, 2024


Proverbs 6:23 For this command is a lamp,    this teaching is a light,and correction and instruction    are the way to life. This verse is certainly true, but what is striking is that what follows is a very clear warning not to be … Continue reading

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